Grand Canyon Black Widow Spiders
Grand Canyon black widow spiders are one of the insects you have to watch out for on a canyon tour. This spider is seen at higher elevations of the Grand Canyon. The spider is considered far more dangerous than any other North American spider, as the venom of the female is 15 times more toxic than that of a rattlesnake. Watch out for the female, as the juveniles and males are harmless.
The Danger Of The Female Black Widow
In fact, the female Grand Canyon black widow cannot be trusted at all. Every now and then, she will kill and eat the male black widow after mating. To make sure you are not bitten, you will need to be able to identify the spider. It measures about one-half inch long, and expands in length to about 1.5 inches when its legs spread out. The males are about half the size of the females, and therefore are very small. While their bodies are tiny, their legs are longer than the females.
Getting Bit By A Grand Canyon Black Widow
The female Grand Canyon black widow spider normally exhibits a red hourglass configuration on its abdomen. Some of the females display several red spots and a couple crosswire bars on their underbellies. You will find black widows in all four deserts of the US Southwest. While the female black widow’s venom is poisonous, its bite seldom leads to a fatality. That is because it only injects a small amount of poison at a time. Human mortality from this type of bite is less than one percent.
The species L. Hesperus is found in the western US, or the Grand Canyon. If you are bitten by a Grand Canyon black widow spider, you should obtain medical care immediately. If you can catch the spider for identification, it can be easier to treat the bite.
Grand Canyon Black Widow Webs
Black widow spiders spin webs that are not intricate in design. In fact, they often lack any type of design. Their webs, while being erratic in form, features stronger silk than that of other spiders. The webs they make are both sticky and rough. Fortunately, the black widow spider is nocturnal in nature, and stays hidden in her web – her belly displayed upward. While the spider is not aggressive, it may attack if its web is disturbed.
What The Black Widow Eats
Like other arachnids or spiders, the Grand Canyon black widow preys on insects. Prey caught in the widow’s web may include beetles, cockroaches, and other arthropods. After the black widow captures a victim, she creates small punctures in her victim’s body before consuming the liquid contents. The predator of the black widow is the mud-dauber wasp.
Always Be Prepared When Traveling
If you plan to take a Grand Canyon tour, it never hurts to learn about some of the species that may attack without warning. If you disturb a black widow’s web unknowingly, you can get unexpectedly bit. Find out more about the precautions you should take before you schedule a tour. You can easily plan travel online. Contact Grand Canyon Destinations about trips to the South Rim and West Rim of the Grand Canyon now.
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